South Africa’s rising star Casandra Alexander captured the title at the rain‑soaked KPMG Irish Open, delivering a commanding performance throughout a damp week in County Kildare. After finishing as a runner‑up five times this season on the Ladies European Tour, Alexander finally broke through, posting a wire‑to‑wire victory that was anchored by a record‑low round of 63 on the opening day at The K Club’s Palmer South Course.
Alexander surged out of the gates, birdieing three of her first four holes and never looking back. She closed the tournament at an astonishing 20‑under‑par, three strokes ahead of Czech Republic’s Sara Kouskova, with Finland’s Noora Komulainen a further shot back.
Her dominant display not only secured her first win of the year but also underscored her status as the LET’s leading player. In the home crowd’s spotlight, Leona Maguire finished as the top Irish competitor, landing in fourth place, five strokes shy of Alexander’s total. The event set a new record for Irish participation, featuring nine professional and seven amateur players – the strongest domestic representation in the tournament’s history. Weather played a major role from the start.
Saturday’s third round was suspended for 45 minutes as heavy rain hammered the Palmer South Course, and the final round’s closing par‑five was shortened on Sunday to accommodate the lingering wet conditions. Despite these disruptions, Alexander maintained her composure. After a brief wobble on the first two holes of the final day – the only moment she appeared vulnerable – she rebounded with three consecutive birdies beginning at the fifth hole, re‑establishing a comfortable cushion and steering the tournament toward the victory she had long been chasing.
“This win is truly special,” Alexander said afterward. “It’s a prestigious event, and I feel this triumph is as meaningful as any other because it’s not a fluke.” She added that she was eager to return home and celebrate with friends and family, emphasizing that her primary goal for the season is to top the Order of Merit, a target best achieved by winning tournaments like this one. Maguire’s final round began seven strokes behind the leader, but she carried momentum from her own spectacular 63 earlier in the week – a round that featured nine birdies and no bogeys, posted before the worst of Saturday’s rain arrived.
On Sunday, she ignited the home crowd with a burst of four birdies in five holes around the turn, lifting her score to 15‑under‑par. Unfortunately, the surge was followed by six consecutive pars and a bogey at the shortened 17th before she finished with a birdie on the final hole, securing fourth place. This result ties her best finish at the Irish Open, matching the fourth‑place she achieved at Dromoland Castle in 2022. “It’s been a fantastic week,” Maguire reflected.
“The spectators have been amazing, rain or shine. I think we’ve added another successful chapter to the Irish Open, and the fans really lifted us this week.” She also noted her satisfaction with posting two low rounds over the weekend, acknowledging that while Friday’s round slipped away, a total of 15‑under‑par represents a solid performance and gives Irish fans something to cheer about.
Maguire’s timing could not be better as she was named one of captain Anna Nordqvist’s picks for next month’s Solheim Cup. This selection arrives after a challenging season in which she missed the cut in four of the five majors and has not won a tournament in two years. A top‑five finish at her national open suggests her form is finally clicking at the right moment.
Her Solheim Cup record stands at eight wins, three losses, and one halve across three appearances, and she was the leading scorer as an unbeaten rookie during Europe’s 2021 victory. This pedigree made her the sole veteran among Nordqvist’s four picks, which also include debutants Julia Lopez Ramirez of Spain, Nastasia Nadaud of France, and Mimi Rhodes of England. Both the LPGA and LET will enjoy a brief hiatus before the 20th edition of the Solheim Cup, set for Bernardus Golf in the Netherlands, where Team Europe hopes to reclaim the trophy from the United States. The opening ceremony will be broadcast live on Thursday, 10 September, at 4 pm on Sky Sports+, followed by round‑the‑clock coverage across the three‑day competition on Sky Sports Golf.
Coverage starts at 6 am on Friday, 11 September, and Saturday, 12 September, with two sessions each day, and concludes with the singles matches at 9 am on Sunday, 13 September. Viewers can also access the latest Sky Sports deals or stream the action without a contract via NOW.